Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / Dec. 15, 1875, edition 1 / Page 4
Part of Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
I O' 20 Zion’s Landmarks: Wilson, N. C. CocNCiL Bluffs, Iowa, Nov. .23d, 1875. F.ldei' P. D. Gold, Wilson, N. C.— 3Iy Dear Brother in the Lord: ‘ROM time to time I have i received “odd mirabers” of /iun’s Landmabks, and have ^ ^ often thought I would sub- scriiie to It: but, being poor, and al- I’cady a reader of the Signs of the Times, (substantially of the same chav- actor and second to none in ability,) I have not before felt able to remit the two dollars which you will find enclosed. I have read several other ]>apers of the Primitive Baptist order, and, in all of them I have found good things; but, as a wdiole, the Signs of the Times and the Land- >fAKKS are ray favorites, despite of the heresies thought to exist by some in the former. It is true, I have not received ,as my oion, everything that has appeared in the columns of that jvaper; nor, can I expect to, in any thing that is onlv human, as I am human. But according to my weak measure of what is really heresy, it is only that which “ denies the Father and the Son ” in our salvation, with out either ?/;or/i;s or means, as mere human agencies; or, make-weights of any kind, in the great work of etek_ NAE SAEVATION! One, I take it, may be in abstract error, Avithout in validating the great truth, “By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Even tho,se born again and exercised by the Spirit of Holi ness m:(V differ for a season, (but more in appearance than reality) about things not vital to the one faith, “ Christ in us the hope of glory.” presence of Jews, wh.o had professed (ihrist, but Avere still zealous of the traditions of the law, it is quite like ly he thought them not yet strong enough to adopt such language as Paul afterwards used; and, so dis- sunbled—jverhaps Avith the iiiAvard plea, that his own former practice was after the same manner, and could not at once be shown to those Jewish Christians to be at war Avith the vis ion which he had on the house top, A.-hich taught him the bringing in of •he Gentiles into a common brother- liood in Christ, through Avhom, cruci- hed, both Jcavs and Gentiles, must alone come to God. Now that this had con.summated the union, he still, perhap.s, thought the shadoAV no ap proach to the substance, though the light (doAAed from the substance so brilliantly that no trace of a shadoAV Avas left in his entire dominion.— This Paul saAV, and aal^s his constant Iheme, iterated and reiterated in all Ids epLstles—such as “ I determined to knoAV nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”— And, so indeed, Avith Peter in Ids epistles, this truth is ju^t as strongly set forth. But, at the time of his dissimulation, he seems to ha\’e for gotten it. Well, my brother, Avhy was he thus forgetful? Was it not of the Lord, to teach us Avho believe a le.^son ? I cannot doubt it. I am a Avitness to the un- toAvardne.ss of our carnal natures, to see and understand ihe things of the kingdom, only as God from time to time reveals them to us. And, •)ne revelation does not last us longer than it did Peter. Ili.'^, from the house top, Avas for a time forgotten, though he remembered it again. 1 am sure that, in kind (not quantity) it is so Avith me. I cannot feel the gloAV of divine love, and joy in the Holy Ghost that has been, at times, given me ; and, thougli I can look back on periods, here and there, Avhen the Lord set uj) the Ebenezer for me; still, I cannot appropriate again the rich blessings of knoAvledge, faith, and charity, then and there, breathed into mv soul. j So, I can bear Avith my brethren in all faults, tliat do not strike at the root of my hope, as being begotten by God’s OAvn Avill by the Avord of truth, and sanctified by God the Fa ther, and preserved in Je.sus Christ, and called aeeording to his purpose in Christ before the world began!— This must not be denied in Avorks and deeds, though OAvned by the mouth, as many have done, and now do. They Avho profess to believe this doctrine must do as James did, show their faith by their Avorks.— Without it, faith is a dead body, and the more it is handled, the more suf focating Avill be the odor that exhales from it. Wlirn I began to Avrite, I only in tended to note tAvo things : 1st. My remittance for the Landmarks ; and 2nd. A notice of Sister R. Anna Phillips’ Book of her Experience and reasons for joining the Primitive Baptists. I have read it and gladly bear testimony to its excellence, both in doctrine and literary ability. She is one of the “ called of God ” to do a special Avork, more befitting God’s glory than it could have been from tlic mouth, or the per U|^||||MP1XeC¥ ^ - 'Wr»o - T SC Though a -tvoman Avithbut,' J^lelievT!^ any pretentions to the learning of this Avorld, she has that Avhich the Avorld by wisdom know not, in a de gree that strikes deep in the heart of all that have been taught the thun ders of eloquence, in the Avords spoken from the topless throne, declaring all the Avorld guilty before him, and un able to ayrproach him—and not a Avhit more by good (creature) Avorks, thair by bad ones, becau.se the very best are sin! This truth stands prominent in her entire book, and confirms the tru,e doctrine, by the true experience ; and also shows the Missionary Baptists in their prop er: light—in strong language but true. Brethren of the primitive faith, alt of you that are able to pay the 75' Cents, buy it. She cannot send it abroad for nothing. And, should any other ones, seeking the right Avay sec this notice, I can assure such that they Avill find in it a rich mine of truth in experimental teachings “after the tradition of the apostles.” I Ava.s Avaiting at a railroad depot, and a Campbcllite overheard me read ing some passages to a brother with me, and he came to me and offered to buy it. But, despite of the artless simplicity of sister Phillips’ uttterances, they strike the heart Avith a burning elo quence that more than equals “ the pen of the learned.” She seems not to feel the imporlanoe as I do, of every tongue that essays to condemn., She has copied and sent me a criti cism from the Biblical liecorder, of Raleigh, N. C., wherein the Avriter displays his ignorance of experimental doctrine, through grace, and seems to think it is enough that the Missiona ries have Avritten “ election ” in their Church Books ; and, so, accuses sister Phillips of falsehood in her state ment of their denial of it. M^hy, sister Phillips, no AVord of mine can touch that class of men, I pity them, and Avhen they call me a liar, as I have beeen called, I ansAA'er, “ God knoAveth and you do not, and cannot, till he brings you to a point Avhere you Avill not dare to mock him to his face I Then you Avill kiiOAV the truth ; and in knoAving it, you Avill feel that he spake but one Avord, and, it was done ! He gave but one comprehension and thought and it reached from eternity to eter nity ! In that thought the very atoms of all Avorlds are embraced, and the destiny of all souls is open before him, and he sees the end of all things from the beginning, and fixes e\mry- thing in his (to us) incomprehensible purpose, that must and .shall stand, and he Avill do all his pleasure. This is the doctrine of Primitive Baptists, and Avill your detractor dare to say, it is not the doctrine of the Bible? And, Avill he then dare to repeat that Ave are no older than the present gen eration ? I^et the Missionaries bring us the substance and not the form, and let them give us a hearty ac- quiesence in the “ Apostle.s’ doc trine,” before they attempt the claim to be the Apostolic Primitive Bap tists—the “ succe.ssors of the Apos tolic Church.” The foregoing, biother Gold, is at isposal from one, I tvi\St- Aidio W,'tir TTT^«„;jc.-„'7-Trf*fiis lioiy mw^^Tadly OAAming his right to pur pose all things in his oAvn eternal counsel; for Avithout such a God, a chaos Avorse, if possible, than hell, Avould hurl everythi.ig into its vor tex, and never a thought of salvation could cheer a single soul! Wm. B. Slaavson. ' Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N. C., Oct. 24th, 1875. Brother Gold:— l^||T is with solemn reverence, and deep humility, that I attempt to speak of these sacred things, and feel too poor in .spirit, and weak in faith to say anything to com fort or interest the dear children of Zion, and if I should err in my judg ment I hope all Avill pardon the error, remembering I am but a poor frail woman, less in Avorth than the little animalcule ; and thougli I do try to Avatch over myself, and keep my body in continual subjection, I find myself the AAmrst enemy I have, and hardest to subdue; and am so often under the power of the Prince of darkne.ss that I am constrained to say surely, surely the King of righteousness has never redgned in my heart. But if I am the very least in all the house hold of faith, and can have that char ity and faith Avhich Avill sustain me through life, and save my soul in the hour of death, it will be far mere than I deserve; for there is nothing due to me, and all that I am to God I owe ; and of myself I am naught: In heaven’s pure serene elysian plains, Where God in heaven forever reigns ; And angels sing in sweetest strains: Worthy, worthy is the Lamb, ’ twas slain. Upon God’s lofty throne, in A'ast ethereal liglits, A sole'nn council sat, in aa'Isc debate. And there a scheme devised, to rascue man. From his lost and mind state. Before tlie briny waves rolled in the deep. Or va.st creation’.s mighty work began; Oh ! wondroas love—such grace divine, Tliat God His only Son should here re.dgn ; And, like a bleeding dying lamb This great redeemer God, lay slain for man, When he made the ancient covenant of grace He forekneAV the ruin of this fallen race,. And saw needful for His only Son To purchase by His blood, all that should be lieve upon His name. In converse sweet, the Father, Son, and Ho ly Ghost agreed, That from the earth man should be formed. Cold and silent as the grave, this noble work before the Trio lay A God-like image made of clay. In meditation deep, this glorious Monarch stood, And A'iewed the work His hands had made so good. Then from Himsel f wonderful life he breathed, And to that man a’liying soul He gave. His work was finished—made complete. And nothing left which man could do But to believe His word of life and truth dl- Aune. ’Tis not of works, lest man should boast, ’Tis all of mercy, love, and grace combined- There is a spiritual food—a vital ■ suLstance—a divine love in this doc trine binding each to the other, that cannot be found in the law. As the life of the Christian is hid AAuth Christ in God, so is this doctrine hidden in the holy Trinity, and cannot be known to man unless revealed by that poAver. (For I knoAv that these things are spiritually discerned.)— The natural heart of man is shroud ed in darkness. The soul is dead in trespasses and sin, condemned by the righteous law of God : blind, naked, poor and miserable, and knoAvs it not. It requires the poAver of God to aAvak- en the soul and bring it into life, that it may .see and feel that it is a con demned sinner. I believe that God as the creator of man, is the forgiver of sin, Christ is the mediator whose death satisfied the; laAv; so that all who believe in Him shall be saved. The Holy Ghost is the comforter.— IFhen that Spirit is sHit Avith its mission of peace to the convicted sin ner divine love is implanted into the soul; it is then dead to the laAv, and made to lAe in Christ; it is regen erated—cleansed from all sin, born of the Spirit, and like a new-boru babe it begin.s a new and spiritual life: old things have passed away and all things are iioaa" iigav ; it loves good and from the evil turns. The- laAvs of God put into the heart, and AA’ritteu in the mind—all its trans- cfrssions blotted out to be I’cmember- o ed no more. Clothed Avith the right eousness of Christ; sanctified and made acceptable in the sight of God, it has free aceess to the throne of grace, Avhere it holds a SAA^eet com munion of Spirit Avith God and Christ and lives on spiritual food—an heir of heaven, and Joint heir Avith Christ —kej)t by the power of God : re served in heaven, ready to be reveal ed at the last time. Being nOAV created in Christ unto good Avorks, this tree will bring forth good fruit, yielding the peaceable fruits of right eousness. 'Ihe heart is still possess ed of all its e\ul propensities. The flesh is subject to its former 1 ust; but tliat life Avhich God breathed into man, when he became a living .soul though corrupt by the fall, is changed, is cleansed from all sin dead to the law and married to-Christ: sanctified by the blood of the cove- uantj it stands, holy and without
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 15, 1875, edition 1
4
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75